Automatic restaurant



c. H. sPmK AND V. 0, GARNS. AUTOMATIC msrwimm.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, [920.

1,383,975, Patented Aug. 30, 1,921.

17 $HEETSSHEET 3.

V/C 7 0/717. GARA S H'. SPINKAND V. 0. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC sasnuamn. APPLICATION HLED JULY 26, 1920.

1-? SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. q M (w ATTORNEY.

PatentdAug. 30,1921.

C.H. SPINK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

APPLICATION FlLEE1U LY26,-I920.

1,388,975. PatentedA ugQ30,1921.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

i I i L I i ll /c'ro/mqwims I BY ATTORNEY.

C. H. SPiNK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

APPLICATION min JULY 26. 1920.

1,388,975. mm Au ao, 1921.

'11 SHEETS-SHEET a.

ATTORNEY. T

C. H. SPINK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

APPLlCATl0N FlLED JULY 26. 1 920.

1,388,975.- PatentedAug.30 ,1921.

H SHEETS-SHEE1 i.

WW3 V/CIWFAGAFAS ATTORNEY.

C. H'..SP|NK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

rrucmowmzu JULY 26, mm,

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

I? SHEETS-SHEET 8.

ATTORNEY.

17 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

$7747 INVENTORJ w km ZZ Z /Z///////// C. H. SPINK AND V. D. GAHNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

APPLICATION men JULY 26, 1920.

low v lf/IWESSES G. H. SPINK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT APPLICATION FlLED'JULY 26, 1920..

1,388,975. PatentedAug. 30, 1921,

17 $HEETSSHEET ll. r+-\.

I m: X KN [WT/V6655? CAM/7153M SP/WA" *INVENTORS W Ware/7B. G/Ifi/YS ATTORNEY.

c. H. SPINK AND v.11. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT. APPLICATION FILED JULYZ i920- 1921. n SHEETS-SHEET 12.

Patentw di 30 INVENTOR S ATTORNEY.

C. H. SPINK AND V. D. GARNS.

AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT.

,PPLICATION FILED JULY 26. x 9zo.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

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Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

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C. H. SPINK AND V.-D. GARNS.

AUTOMI H'IC RESTAURANT. APPLICATIQN FILED JULY 26, 1920.

\ hmmzw NEE Cl/AFLES 9/l/VA [0670 92648175 c. H. SPINK AND'V. 0. GARNS.

' AUTOMATIC RESIAUHANT.

APPLICATION'FILED JULY 26, I920.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SPIN! AND VICTOR D. GAINS, 01' DAVENPORT, IOWA.

AUTOIATIC RESTAURANT.

and allow comparatively cheap meals to be served.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lunch room or other eating establishment and by means of which a customer entering the lunch room may make his'selection from the bill of fare, order his meal and have it mechanically served, thus dispensing with the employment of waiters and consequently reducing the cost of maintaining and operating such an establishment.

Another object of the invention is the production of a system of this nature that may be used efficiently, eliminating entirely the necessity of giving orders to, and receiving food from waiters as is the common practice thus insuring sanitation and will be quick and sure, and will tend to do away with the noise and confusion usually attendant in such dining establishments.

Another object is to provide a device of this nature which economizes space for serving the food and dishes, which reduces the number of employees, which saves time in the service of patrons, which enables the food to be served to the patron at his designated table by a semi-automatic mechanism which attracts his attention and is likely to draw trade.

Another object of the invention is to produce a system whereby the customer will be individually served and after having eaten he will place his dishes upon a conveyer so that they'will automatically return to the kitchen.

Another object of the invention is to produce a system whereby the trays used for carrying the food and empty dishes will travel to the desired places by the force of gravitation. v

Another object of the invention is an efii- I v Specification of Letters Patent.

" Appflcationlled July 26,

tate of Iowa, have invented Patented Aug. 30, 1921. mo. Serial at. 398,900.

.cient arrangement of the kitchen so as to accommodate a system of this nature ec'onomically and so as to require the minimum amount of space.

Another object of the invention is the production of simple and eflicient means for changing the direction of the travel of the trays after they have reached the kitchen or are being sent from the kitchen to the dining-room. a

' Another object of the invention is the production of an electrically operated stop mechanism situated in front of each table so that the trays may be stopped in their travel without arring the contents thereof.

Another object of the invention is the production of a card system whereby the order I of the patron may e taken care of and the charges thereof correctly noted.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this character by providing a device which will be comparatively simple, extremely durable and inexpensive in construction, one which is both eflicient-and reliable in operation and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. 1 I

With these and numerous other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top p an view showing the general arrangement of our system,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one corner of the kitchen construction showing the walls and other parts thereof in section,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the central conveyer looking from the frontof the lunch room,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the centrally situated conveyers, parts thereof being broken away, I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the centrally located conve ers showing the end nearest the entrance 0 the lunch room,

one of the side conve ers, showing the same as 'it enters the kite en and parts thereof broken away.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail perspectlve view of the bracket which is used for supporting the conveyer run-ways,

Fig. 10 is a section taken through the kitchen looking out toward the dmm -room showing the position occupied by t e o erator who controls the operation of t e tra s,

F ig. 11 is a fragmentary to plan view of a ortion of one of the si e conve ers and the table and seating capacity use in conhection therewith,

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the central conveyers looking at the same from the kitchen,

Fig. 13 is an elevation showing the mecha nism for changing the direction of the travel of the trays in the kitchen,

Fig. 14 discloses detailed views of the mechanism used in connection with the construction disclosed in Fig. 13 and the operation thereof,

Fig.15 is a section taken through one end of the rollers used in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 13 showing the means used for mounting the same,

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13, 4

Fig. 17 discloses views of the spring used in connection with the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the stop used in connection with the trays,

Fig. 19 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 18,

Fig. 20 is a side elevation'of the rollers used upon the conveyer run-ways,

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 20,

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism for stopping, the tra s,

ig. 23 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 22 parts thereof being shown in section,

Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in- Fig. 22,

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the complete stop mechanism showing the same in operation,

Fig. 26 is an elevational view of the bracket used for supporting the solenoid,

Fig. 27 is a detailed sectional view of the core of the solenoid,

Fig. 28 is a top plan .view of the solenoid,

Fig. 29 is a bottom plan view of the tray,

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken on the line 30-30 of Fig. 29,

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary view of the receiving clerks order sheet,

Fig. 32 is a front view of the menu card,

Fig. 33 is a view of the customers'check.

- asses-n Fig. 34 is a diagrammatical-view of the electrical circuit used in connection with this system, and

Fig. 35 is a fra mentary perspectlve view of a slightly mo ified form of our system.

Referring to our s stem in detall'it will be readily seen that represents the lobby or reception room which may have any desirable entrance so that the customer or patron may enter. A bench 1 is provided in the reception room and the patron will be given a bill of fare or menu card from which he may. select the desired articles by unching .the card shown in Fig. 32 of the rawing in the designated columnoplposite the article desired. This card will t en be given to an attendant positioned at 2 who will telephone the order to the kitchen to be filled and will assign a. number to the customer and this number will be placed upon the card. A check such as shownin Fig. 33 of the drawing will be presented to the customer upon which will ap ar his seat number and this check will a so be unched so as to designate the total cost 0 purchase. In order to save time and afford accuracy in this system each article on the bill of fare will be given a number shown in the card illustrated in Fig. 32 and the operator at 2 will telephone these numbers, the first number designating the customers seat number and this will be placed lapon a sheet such as is shown and i1 ustrate in Fig. 31. The

attendant in the kitchen may then check the remaining number upon his sheet and the order will then be filled in a manner to be hereinafter described. In the meantime the customer has passed through the turnstile indicated at 3 in Fig. 1 and has taken the seat in the lunch room corresponding to the number upon his check.

The general arran ement of the lunch room is disclosed in ig. 1 and it will be seen that conveyers are arranged along the side walls as indicated by the letters A and D and that there are also centrallylocated conveyers B and C. All the tables 4 arranged alongside of the conveyers B and C are individual tables and are provided with the seats 5 whereas the tables 6 along the walls and conveyers A and D are arranged so as to accommodate two persons, the seats 7 being preferably arranged opposite the ends of the tables .6. Coat hangers 8 may be arranged in the aisles of the lunch room at suitable intervals.

By referring especially to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the kitchen is arranged so that the top portion of the con veyers A and D will lead toward the rear thereof so that a dish washing machine may be situated at the terminal thereof for remeans ever may be desired. A range 11 is situated centrally and to the rear of the kitchen and we prefer to have the ice boxes 12 and ant may fill the conveyers A and C while another attendant will attend to the conveyers B and D. Of course, it will be readily' understood that during those hours of the day when business is not very rushed it will be necessary and probably very desirable only to use one of the conveyers and of course during such hours only a portion of the kitchen need be used. At 14 we have shown a steam table upon which dishes which are greatly in demand may be placed so as to be readily accessible and quickly obtained for placing upon the trays.

By referring to Flgs. 3 and 4 of the drawing 1t will be seen that the central conveyers B and C are supported upon the pedestals 15 which may be of any preferred construction and as shown have the su porting braces 16 extending at right ang es therefrom at the top thereof so as to su port the tables 4. Standards .17 are vertically attached to the tables 4 so as to support the upper conveyer 18 and the lower conveyer 19. By referrin especially to Fig.4: of the drawing it will e seen that the upper conveyer 18 slants toward the kitchen at the left while the conveyer 19 slants toward the front of the lunch room at the right and thus it will be readily understood that the conveyer 19 delivers the food to the cus tomer while the conveyer 18 returns the trays and dirty dishes to the kitchen. The numeral 20 designates condiments and sugar and 'milk containers or supports of any preferred construction which are situated between the individual tables 4. In Fig. 5 of the drawing it will be seen that the conveyer 18 is provided with spaced apart grooves for receiving the strips 25. The conveyer 19 is similarly constructed. A plurality of rollers 23 are suitably mounted on these strips 25. The construction of these rollers 23 is more clearly brought out in Figs. 20 and 21 of the drawing and it will be noted that they taper to arather narrow periphery and are each provided with a spindle 24 which is journaled in thestrip 25 in'any preferred manner.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 there is illustrated the construction of the side conveyers A and D. The conveyers A and D have a top conveyer 18 and a bottom conveyer 19 support ed by the'standards 17 This whole mechanism is carried upon the brackets 26 which are preferably situatedadjacent the-tables 6 so as to aid in the support thereof. Otherwise these conveyers 18 and 19 are similar to the construction already described for conveyers B and C. In Fig. 9 of the draw- By referring to "ing we have shown a detailed perspective view of the bracket used for sup ortmg the conveyers 18 and 19. This brac et may be held in engagement with the. standards 17 in any desired'manner.

As stated above the tables-6 which are arran ed along the conveyers A and D are provided with the seats 7 at each end thereof as is clearly brought out in Fig. 11 of the drawing and it will be noted that condiment supports or containers 27 extend out over those tables for the use of the patrons. It

will also be noted in Fig. 11 thatthe patron may easily remove the tray from the lower conveyer 19 and after having finished his meal may easily place the same upon the upper conveyer 18. r 2

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing it will be noted that the empty trays which will be placed upon the top conveyer 18 of the conveyer mechanisms C and B will travel toward the kitchen because of gravitation and after having passed through an opening provided in the wall 28 separating the kitchen from the dining room proper it will be necessary to change the direction of the travel of these trays so that they will travel sidewise along the conveyers 29 to the extension 30 of the conveyers-A and D and then to the dish washing machine. It will also be noted that one of the conveyers 29 is provided with the hinged portion 32 so that the same may be raised so as to allow the attendants to pass from the front portion of the kitchen to the rear thereof.

In Figs. 10, 12 13, 14, and 16 wehave illustrated in detail this transferring mechanism. It consists of a hinged frame 33 having the transverse rollers 34 mounted therein. These rollers 34 are hollow in construction, and have cylinders at each end provi'ded with a depression therein for receiving the end 36 of the supporting bracket 37 which is fixedly attached to the frame 33 in anydesired manner so that these rollers will be operated upon a level higher than the frame 33 itself. The frame 33 is hinged M38 and these hinges 38 may be of any preferred construction having a spring therein for returning this frame 33 in a horizontal position so as to be in alinement with the upper conveyer 18 of the conveyers B and C.

Spring arms 39 which are shown in detail in Fig. 17 are disposed along the side portions of the upper conveying mechanisms B and C adjacent the frame 33 so that after the tray has passed on to this frame it cannot accidentally be moved back upon the conveyer 18. At the kitchen end of each of the frames 33 is a latch 40' which will be formed of spring metal and have portions 41 and 42 reinforced. At the terminal of the portion 4C2 a plunger 43 is situated so that the tray will abut it thus releasing the latch from engagement with the frame 33 so 

